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Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi arrived in Tunisia on Thursday from Algeria, where he took part in the 35th summit of the Organization of African Unity. An official source in Tunis said Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali received Gaddafi and discussed with him bilateral relations and means of developing them as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. Go

The volume of Arab and foreign investments in Egypt reached 25 billion pounds in the free trade zones. A report made by the Egyptian Businessmen's Association said that Saudi Arabia comes in the first position with 4.5 billion pounds, then Kuwait with 4 billion pounds. Go

The Syrian Cabinet decided to stop exporting olive oil starting from the beginning of the coming year. A statement issued by the Syrian embassy in Cairo said that the direct reasons for taking this decision are the retreat in the Syrian export percentage of olive oil due to a packing style that is not desired by universal markets, in addition to the incapability of the Syrian products to compete with Moroccan, Tunisian and Egyptian products due to weak marketing. Go

United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled met yesterday with US President Bill Clinton, a White House statement said. The statement said that the two were to discuss bilateral relations, Kosovo, and regional issues including Iraq, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said. Go

US jets bombed a communications facility in northern Iraq today after aircraft flying as part of Operation Northern Watch patrolling the northern Iraq no-fly zone were targeted by Iraqi anti-aircraft fire, a statement from the US European Command said. "This site is used to transmit information from radars that in-turn target coalition aircraft," the statement added. "All coalition aircraft departed the area safely," it stated. Go

Morocco's Chamber of Advisors (2nd House of Parliament) approved Thursday a draft law on copyright in a bid to protect the intellectual property in the Kingdom. Go

Morocco will host next September a meeting of parliament speakers from than 15 countries, said here Thursday Abdelouahed Radi, speaker of the Moroccan House of representatives (lower chamber of the parliament). Radi said the meeting will prepare for the 3rd Millennium Parliament world meeting to be held in 2000 at the UN headquarters. Go

An Egyptian delegation under the chairmanship of Mostafa Saiid, head of the Egyptian international trade points, is currently visiting the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to participate in the regional discussions regarding supporting and developing electronic trade and intellectual property between the two countries at Morocco's request. Go

Beirut is taking the executive steps for the final preparations to host the third international conference for developing communications, Arabcom-2000, which will be held in Beirut from March 25 - 28, 2000 to discuss the major issues and problems facing the communications industry in the Arab states. Beirut has hosted the last two sessions. Go

The German Niker man for tourism decided to establishing projects of 100 million German marks to build tourism establishments that do not harm the environment. The projects include establishing hotels on Gerba Island and in the southern areas of El-Hamamat and Gar James, as well developing and running the area of the tourism resort El-Mahdia. Go

The Syrian public corporation for marketing cotton exported 36,000 tons of Syrian cotton in June to North Africa, Europe and the Far East through Lattakia harbor. Economic reports issued by the Syrian embassy in Cairo said exports of Syrian cotton have reached 153,000 tons since the beginning of the season until June to the North African countries, Europe, and the Far East, as well as to some Arab and African states. Go

Chiefs of Somali tribes said that Col. Ahmad Abdi Guei, of Ethiopian origin, arrived on Thursday morning leading an Ethiopian army contingent to the village of Varsolai in Shabeel district, southern Somalia. The chiefs added that the Ethiopian forces met with no resistance from the men of warlord Hussein Muhammad Aideed, who had previously deployed in the region. Go

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Thursday in Beirut received Prince Talal Bin Muhammad, the advisor of the Jordanian king for national security affairs. During the meeting arrangements for the coming visit of Jordan's King Abdullah to Lebanong were debated and bilateral relations between Jordan and Lebanon were reviewed. Go

The commander of the Lebanese army, Maj. Gen. Michael Suleiman, has asserted that the Lebanese army's leadership has deepened coordination with the Syrian army in confrontation of aggressive schemes aimed at attacking the unity of the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. Go

The Lebanese Parliament on Thursday ratified the Lebanese state budget for 1998-1999, estimated at 8,364 billion Lebanese pounds. In his intervention at the conclusion of the session of the Lebanese Parliament that lasted for four days, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss indicated that his government had faced several challenges, especially as the general debt by the end of 1998 reached US $18 billion, representing 119% of the Gross National Product, adding that the general budget deficit reached 15% of the total GNP. Go

Syrian Minister of State for Planning Affairs Abdul Raheem al-Subai and the Japanese ambassador in Damascus have signed mutual messages between Syria and Japan regarding an economic grant amounting at 949 million Japanese yen (US $8 million) to finance the project of two power generating units' maintenance at Banias electricity station and providing it with the needed spare parts in favor of the General Institution of Generating Electricity. Go